Greetings Little One

Such love

The majesty and utility of the Baby Mum Mum

When I’m desperately trying to squeeze out a few more sentences of my manuscript and you are demanding my attention, little one, I can always depend on a Baby Mum Mum, a tasteless rice treat, to give me the the few more minute that I need to finish.

You love Baby Mum Mums. 

Unfortunately, you’re so damn cute while eating your Baby Mum Mum that I often can’t focus on the manuscript. 

Making your dolls suffer

You’ve named her newest doll Tumor, little one. Perhaps you’re getting even with anyone you can for having a last name like Dicks.

Sibling cuddles

I have a brother and a sister and a former step-brother and former step-sister, little ones, yet I don’t think there was ever a time when we did something like this.

   

Slightly hazardous play makes a birthday party great.

I loved your birthday party, little one.

Held at My Gym, which you believe is not the name of the place but a reference to the gym being your own (and I dare anyone to try to convince you otherwise), I couldn’t have been more pleased with the organized games that they offered.

Normally you’re not one for the organized games, preferring free play, and you can become annoyed when told that it’s circle time or the moment to learn a new skill. Normally I would agree with you, but on Saturday, the activities offered just enough danger and old school to make me happy.

First, punching bag-shaped bolsters were hung from the ceiling and swung back and forth and random arcs, and you were asked to run through them without getting hit and knocked down. It was actually a challenging and slightly frightening task for many of your friends (some were legitimately knocked on their ass), but they loved it, running through several times each, you included.

Next, the staff dumped an enormous pail of plush balls on the floor and encouraged you to think of them as snowballs. “Snowball fight!” a staff member shouted, and you and your friends were invited to throw the balls at one another.

I have often said that one of the best things to do with a ball is throw it at someone else’s, and you and your friends agreed wholeheartedly. 

Lastly, kids were sent down a zip line. Though they were spotted for the entire ride, it was challenging and frightening for many of the kids. Even you, little one, who had never agreed to ride the zip line before, loved it.

 

Three activities that generated some old fashioned fear and excitement in the kids, which almost always makes the event more fun and memorable.

Add a little kickboxing, an arm wrestling match and maybe some Rock’em Sock’m Robots and we could’ve a legitimately idyllic afternoon.

Still, it wasn’t bad at all. Kudos to Mommy for pulling the whole thing off on her own.    

Ready to eat like a man!

 

Four years old today!

Best four years of our lives. Presumably of your life, too.

   

Gramps gets credit for everything

Kisses for Charlie

First cantaloupe a hit!